“By the results of this vote our members have wholeheartedly said they approve the deal their negotiating team reached at the contract table,” said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas in a release. “The members said all along they wanted a good deal and today they delivered their stamp of approval.”

The college cleaners, food service staff and registration officers will receive the following wage increases over the term of the contract:

· 1.5 per cent in the first year

· 1.75 per cent in the second year

· 2.0 per cent in the third year

Initially, the union had been asking for a salary increase of three per cent in each year of the contract. The College Employer Council (CEC) had been offering a 4.8 per cent salary increase over the life of the contract.

The support staff walked off the job at the beginning of September 2011 after the parties were unable to reach an agreement. Schools remained open with the use of management and non-unionized part-time staff.

“The ratification is great news, because it shows that employees clearly support the agreement,” said chair of the College Employer Council bargaining team Gerry Barker in a statement.